A90265:71
The duty of pastors and people distinguished [sic]. Or A brief discourse, touching the…The duty of pastors and people distingushed [sic]. Or A briefe discourse, touching the…
The duty of pastors and people distinguished [sic]. Or A brief discourse, touching the administration of things commanded in religion. Especially concerning the means to be used by the people of God (distinct from church-officers) for the increasing of divine knowledge in themselves and others. Wherein bounds are prescribed to their performances, their liberty is enlarged to the utmost extent of the dictates of nature and rules of charity: their duty laid down in directions, drawn from Scripture-precepts, and the practise of Gods people in all ages. Together with the several ways of extraordinary calling to the office of public teaching, with what assurance such teachers may have of their calling, and what evidence they can give of it, unto others. / By John Owen, M.A. of Q. Col. O.The duty of pastors and people distingushed [sic]. Or A briefe discourse, touching the administration of things commanded in religion. Especially concerning the means to be used by the people of God (distinct from church-officers) for the increasing of divine knowledge in themselves and others. Wherein bounds are prescribed to their peformances, their liberty is enlarged to the utmost extent of the dictates of nature and rules of charity: their duty laid downe in directions, drawn from Scripture-precepts, and the practise of Gods people in all ages. Together with the severall wayes of extraordinary calling to the office of publike teaching, with what assurance such teachers may have of their calling, and what evidence they can give of it, unto others. / By John Ovven, M.A. of Q. Col. O.
London: printed by L. N. for Philemon Stephens, 1644
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
now to leave them inexcusable, and whether they would hear or whether they would forbear, to convince them, that there hath been a Prophet amongst them, as also to give the greater credibility ⟨p. 34⟩to their extraordinary message, to them that were to believe their report, it is necessary that the Arm of the Lord should be revealed, working in and by them, in some extraordinary manner, it is certain enough, that God never sent any one extraordinarily, instructed only with ordinary gifts, and for an ordinary end: the aim of their employment I showed before was extraordinary, even the reparation of something instituted by God, and collapsed by the sin of man; that it may be credible, or appear of a truth, that God had sent them for this purpose, they were always furnished, with such gifts and abilities, as the utmost reach of humane endeavours, with the assistance of common grace cannot possibly attain. The general opinion is, that God always supplies such, with the gift of miracles. Take the Word in a large sense, for every supernatural product, beyond the ordinary activity of that secondary cause whereby it is effected, and I easily grant it; but in the usual restrained acceptation of it, for outward wonderful works, the power of whose production consists in operation, I something doubt the universal truth of the assertion. We do not read of any such miracles wrought by the Prophet Amos, and yet he stands upon his extraordinary immediate vocation; I was neither Prophet nor the son of a Prophet, but the Lord called me, &c. it sufficeth then that they be furnished with a supernatural power either in, 1. Discerning, 2. Speaking, 3. Working:
now to leave them inexcusable, and whether they would heare or whether they would forbeare, to convince them, that there hath been a Prophet amongst them, as also to give the greater credibility ⟨p. 34⟩to their extraordinary message, to them that were to beleeve their report, it is necessary that the Arme of the Lord should be revealed, working in and by them, in some extraordinary manner, it is certain enough, that God never sent any one extraordinarily, instructed onely with ordinary gifts, and for an ordinary end: the ayme of their imployment I shewed before was extraordinary, even the reparation of something instituted by God, and collapsed by the sin of man; that it may be credible, or appeare of a truth, that God had sent them for this purpose, they were alwayes furnished, with such gifts and abilities, as the utmost reach of humane indeavours, with the assistance of common grace cannot possibly attaine. The generall opinion is, that God alwayes supplies such, with the gift of miracles. Take the Word in a large sence, for every supernaturall product, beyond the ordinary activity of that secondary cause whereby it is effected, and I easily grant it; but in the usuall restrained acceptation of it, for outward wonderfull workes, the power of whose production consists in operation, I something doubt the universall truth of the assertion. We do not read of any such miracles wrought by the Prophet Amos, and yet he stands upon his extraordinary immediate vocation; I was neither Prophet nor the son of a Prophet, but the Lord called me, &c. it sufficeth then that they be furnished with a supernaturall power either in, 1. Discerning, 2. Speaking, 3. Working: